Standard contracts with community landlords

• People renting from community landlords will usually have a  secure occupation contract  
• In some circumstances, community landlords can give standard occupation contracts
• It is usually easier for a community landlord to evict standard occupation contract-holders

If you rent your home from a community landlord you probably have a secure occupation contract. However, you may have a standard occupation contract if:

• you moved into your home less than 1 year ago and were given an introductory standard contract 
• your landlord has successfully applied to the county court to give you a prohibited conduct standard contract due to antisocial behaviour
• you live in supported accommodation and have a supported standard contract 
• you are a sub-holder and your landlord is renting your home from a community landlord
• you have made a homelessness application and live in emergency or temporary accommodation provided by the council
• You are employed by a community landlord and live in your home as part of your employment 
• Your home is not classed as social housing 

This is not a full list of examples.

Standard contracts ‘by notice’

If a community landlord wants to give you a standard contract for a reason not listed above, they should give you a  ‘section 13’  notice when the contract starts or before. If you moved in before 1 December 2022 your community landlord has until 1 February 2023 to give you notice that you have a converted standard occupation contract rather than a converted secure contract. You can ask the county court to review the decision to give this notice.

Getting advice if you ask for a county court review

If you have been given a standard occupation contract by a community landlord for one of the reasons above, or for any other reason, it is best to get help if you want to challenge it in the county court. This area of the law is complex so it is always best to talk about your options with an adviser.